Home Ownership

Home ownership is an exciting and fulfilling journey. We are sharing some tips here to help you make the most out of your new home and boost its value overtime.

Energy Saving Tips Can Saving You Money Year-Round

Saving energy whenever you can is important to reducing environmental impact, and it can also have a significant impact on your electricity bills. According to Energy.gov, there are several simple solutions to help save you energy and money:

Heating water can be a significant expense. Try using less hot water by washing your clothes in cold water or installing low-flow showerheads.

A power strip can help reduce your electricity bill up to $100 a year. By plugging in all of your electronic devices and turning it off when not in use, you can reduce phantom load – the power a device consumes when still plugged in, yet powered off.

Use fans to cut down on heating and cooling expenses. In warmer months, the effect of windchill from the circulating air will help reduce cooling costs. Having your fan spin counter-clockwise in the winter will push warm air down and heat rooms more efficiently.

Use sunlight to your advantage. Keep curtains open on windows that get direct sunlight to help heat your home in the winter.

Simple tips like these can create a happier, healthier and more valuable home.

How Can Your Home Make You Happier?

Your home should be your sanctuary, a refuge from the stresses of everyday life, where you can relax, enjoy yourself and spend time with friends and family. If your home isn’t bringing you the happiness it should, take a look at the following tips to help put a smile on your face whenever you walk in your front door.

Surround yourself with mood-boosting colors. Red, orange and yellow are most often associated with generating positive feelings. If those colors don’t make you smile, surround yourself with the colors that you’re most drawn to. Try using one of your favorite memories for inspiration. If you took a life-changing trip to Greece a few years ago, why not paint your bedroom the deep blue of the Aegean Sea?

Fill the air with blissful scents. Many scents, including jasmine, citrus and freshly baked bread, are reported to be linked to happiness. Scent is also closely linked with memory, so filling your home with a scent tied to happy memories will give your spirits a lift.

Create a dedicated space for your favorite hobbies. Spending time on activities that bring you joy is important to your overall happiness. Whether your passion is reading, painting or woodworking, having a space devoted to your favorite hobby will motivate you to spend more time doing what you love.

Bring the outdoors in. According to Psychology Today, there is a significant link between time spent enjoying nature and happiness. To bring Mother Nature indoors, fill your home with plants and fresh flowers or just open your curtains to enjoy the view of any nearby gardens or trees.

Simple tips like these can create a happier, healthier and more valuable home.

Is Your Home Smart?In the past few years, home automation has progressed light years beyond The Clapper® of yesteryear. Today, many home features can be automated, from door locks to light switches to thermostats.

These smart home devices, many of which are managed via smartphone or tablet, can work independently or as one unified system through a hub. Implementation of these devices is becoming more and more mainstream, much to the benefit of the booming home automation sector, which is projected to be worth more than $121 billion by 2020.

Some of the biggest benefits of home automation are increased security – such as through cameras and video doorbells – and energy efficiency – such as through thermostats that adapt your home’s temperature to your schedule. For the elderly and homeowners with disabilities, smart home technology increases accessibility through options like voice-controlled light switches or automated lawn watering.

As smart home features become more commonplace, home buyers will begin to demand homes that are outfitted with the technology, and the market value of smart homes will continue to increase.

Looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate? Let’s talk about it. Call us today to arrange a personalized consultation.

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